WO2006038227A1 - Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006038227A1
WO2006038227A1 PCT/IT2004/000541 IT2004000541W WO2006038227A1 WO 2006038227 A1 WO2006038227 A1 WO 2006038227A1 IT 2004000541 W IT2004000541 W IT 2004000541W WO 2006038227 A1 WO2006038227 A1 WO 2006038227A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
capsule
beverage
machine
body portion
cup
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2004/000541
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Martino Zanetti
Original Assignee
Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 Spa
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to RSP-2007/0157A priority Critical patent/RS50413B/en
Priority to MEP-2008-241A priority patent/ME00103B/en
Application filed by Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 Spa filed Critical Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 Spa
Priority to EP04791875A priority patent/EP1796517B1/en
Priority to JP2007534183A priority patent/JP4575952B2/en
Priority to AT04791875T priority patent/ATE383802T1/en
Priority to CNB2004800440792A priority patent/CN100488424C/en
Priority to MX2007003792A priority patent/MX2007003792A/en
Priority to CA2581481A priority patent/CA2581481C/en
Priority to AU2004323812A priority patent/AU2004323812B8/en
Priority to PL04791875T priority patent/PL1796517T3/en
Priority to BRPI0419121A priority patent/BRPI0419121B1/en
Priority to ES04791875T priority patent/ES2299879T3/en
Priority to US11/663,623 priority patent/US7806043B2/en
Priority to PT04791875T priority patent/PT1796517E/en
Priority to PCT/IT2004/000541 priority patent/WO2006038227A1/en
Priority to NZ554154A priority patent/NZ554154A/en
Priority to DE602004011406T priority patent/DE602004011406T2/en
Priority to DK04791875T priority patent/DK1796517T3/en
Priority to IS8636A priority patent/IS8636A/en
Priority to TW094129486A priority patent/TWI292310B/en
Priority to ARP050104161A priority patent/AR055270A1/en
Publication of WO2006038227A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006038227A1/en
Priority to TNP2007000096A priority patent/TNSN07096A1/en
Priority to EGNA2007000321 priority patent/EG24505A/en
Priority to IL182306A priority patent/IL182306A/en
Priority to NO20072265A priority patent/NO337616B1/en
Priority to HK07110969A priority patent/HK1107920A1/en
Priority to HR20080133T priority patent/HRP20080133T3/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
    • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
    • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
    • A47J31/3666—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means whereby the loading of the brewing chamber with the brewing material is performed by the user
    • A47J31/3676—Cartridges being employed
    • A47J31/369—Impermeable cartridges being employed
    • A47J31/3695—Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/06—Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
    • A47J31/0657—Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor for brewing coffee under pressure, e.g. for espresso machines
    • A47J31/0668—Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor for brewing coffee under pressure, e.g. for espresso machines specially adapted for cartridges
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
    • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
    • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
    • A47J31/3666—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means whereby the loading of the brewing chamber with the brewing material is performed by the user
    • A47J31/3676—Cartridges being employed
    • A47J31/369—Impermeable cartridges being employed

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a machine and a method for preparing and dispensing a beverage starting from raw material that is contained in a sealed capsule.
  • An example of a traditional capsule of this kind which is disclosed in the patent publication EP-A-O 521 510, comprises a body portion having a slightly flared shape, which is made of plastics moulded integrally with the bottom wall thereof, the latter being in the shape of a planar disk with a plurality of reduced-thickness zones and supporting a filter on the inner face thereof.
  • This capsule is completed by an upper wall formed by a membrane.
  • the capsule is loaded in a machine, where said upper wall is perforated so as to enable water under pressure to be let into the capsule, while another piercing device provides a plurality of orifices in said reduced-thickness zones of the bottom wall.
  • the beverage practically flows out of the capsule through said orifices in a substantially uncontrolled manner, particularly in the case of capsules containing raw materials in powder form, such as for instance ground coffee of the non-instant kind, which oppose a certain resistance to the flow of water under pressure.
  • the combined piercing and collecting device is a part of the same unit of the machine that supports the capsule. It is anyway quite clear that, if it fails to be cleaned frequently, it may well give rise to the same kind of drawbacks as already discussed with reference to EP-A-O 521 510. Scope and summary of the invention
  • the capsule to be preferably used in conjunction with this machine is illustrated in Figure 7, where it is generally indicated with the reference numeral 200.
  • This capsule can be noticed to have a bottom 202, which is provided with a plurality of filtering orifices 203 and is recessed with respect to the lower edge 204 of the flared body 206 of the capsule. It further includes an upward facing central cusp 214 and, below said cusp, i.e. extending downwards therefrom, a short serrated cylindrical wall 216.
  • first membrane or foil 208 which is bonded or welded onto and along said upper edge 209
  • second membrane or foil 210 which is in turn bonded or welded onto and along the lower edge 204 of the body 206 and extends to almost touch, or even to come into contact with, the free end of said serrated cylindrical wall 216.
  • the main object of the present invention is therefore a machine for the preparation of beverages, starting from a raw material contained in a capsule of the above-described kind, incorporating the characteristics as recited in the appended claims.
  • FIG. 1 is an overall three-dimensional view of a machine for the preparation, of espresso coffee according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a sub-assembly of the machine shown in Figure 1, in which said sub-assembly comprises the brewing unit;
  • - Figure 3 is an exploded view of the brewing unit;
  • - Figure 4 is a three-dimensional rear view of the brewing unit;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the V-V line in Figure 2, in which " the brewing unit is shown in the configuration it takes when a capsule containing the raw material for the beverage is loaded therein;
  • FIG. 6 is a similar view as in Figure 5, in which the brewing unit is however sho-wn in the configuration it takes when the capsule is pierced in view of the preparation and the delivery of the coffee beverage;
  • FIG. 7 is a view of a capsule intended for use in a machine according to the present invention, the capsule being shown according to two vertical sectional planes intersecting on the axis of the capsule. Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • the machine being discussed here is an electrically powered machine that enables a beverage to be prepared at a rate of a single dose at a time, such as for example a cup of espresso coffee from each capsule.
  • a beverage to be prepared at a rate of a single dose at a time, such as for example a cup of espresso coffee from each capsule.
  • the machine When viewed frontally from the outside - Le. as it is illustrated in Figure 1, actually - the machine comprises a metal, substantially cylindrical base member 2, duly provided with adjustable feet 21 for correct levelling, from which there rises upwards, asymmetrically with respect thereto, a forward bending structure 4 that is made of metal and/or structural plastics.
  • This structure is defined by a concave front wall 6, a peripheral mantle 8 roughly in the shape of an upturned U, and a rear wall (not shown), which is partially open to receive the water reservoir 20 (only the upper end portion thereof being shown in the Figure).
  • a box-like body 62 accommodating the functional unit of the machine, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and shall be described in greater detail further on.
  • the functional unit 10 of the machine comprises a device 150 for supporting a capsule 200, which is inserted through a window 64 provided in the front wall 63 of the box-like body 62.
  • Part of this device 150 is a handgrip 154 that, as shown in Figure 2, projects forwards beyond the box-like body 62.
  • the portion 22 of the base member 2 that lies below and in front of the front wall 6 of the structure 4 is closed at the top by a metal grille-like cover 24, which is adapted to be lifted by means of a handgrip 26 and is provided with a central portion 28 adapted to receive and support a vessel (a cup or the like, not shown in the Figure) into which the beverage is dispensed for drinking.
  • a vessel a cup or the like, not shown in the Figure
  • a drip pan (not shown) for collecting possible liquid leaking from the functional unit 10 or the vessel intended to receive the beverage, as well as residues of raw material (coffee grounds) that remain in the capsule upon the beverage having been dispensed.
  • the handgrip 26 enables the grille-like cover 24 to be lifted in order to empty and clean said drip pan.
  • control panel 82 which is removable to special maintenance and repair purposes.
  • said control panel is in fact provided with holes 84 for fastening screws (not shown).
  • the most important part of the machine is constituted by the above-mentioned functional unit 10 which, as already indicated above, is housed in the box-like body 62 below the peripheral mantle 8 of the structure 4.
  • This functional unit - as shown in greater detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4 - comprises a first stationary part 100, which will be referred to as the active part in this description and is supported by an upright member 11 made of press-formed sheet-metal and housed within the same structure 4 (see Figure 2), and a second part, which will be referred to as the passive part in this description and comprises the afore mentioned capsule supporting device 150 (see Figure 3).
  • the active part 100 of the functional unit 10 comprises:
  • an L-shaped base member 110 made as a unitary piece by casting or press-forming, comprising a vertical arm 111 and a horizontal arm 121, wherein in particular:
  • the vertical arm 111 comprises a box-shaped accommodation 112, which is open both on the front side, Le. towards the said horizontal arm 121, and on the back side, and is further provided with a lower appendix 112A projecting downwards.
  • a box-shaped accommodation 112 On the back side of the vertical arm 111 and at the sides of the accommodation 112 there are provided the openings 113A and 113B intended for receiving the screws (not shown) used to fasten the entire active part 100 of the functional unit 10 to the upright member 11 (see Figure 4).
  • lever 114 In the accommodation 112 there is arranged, along a vertical plane, lever 114, roughly in the shape of an L, that forms one of the main features if the present invention.
  • This lever 115 is made by press-forming or machining so as to feature a rather substantial thickness and, as viewed laterally from the top down, includes: an upper portion 120 featuring an upward concave contour, and a first bore 115 located in the widening zone 116 of the box- like accommodation 112, intended to receive the hinging pin 127 (visible in Figures 5 and 6) for the same lever 114; an intermediate portion provided with a rearwards protruding wing 117, where a second bore 118 of the lever 114 is provided; a lower portion that terminates in a punch 119.
  • a return spring (not shown for reasons of greater illustrative simplicity) connects the lever 114 to the vertical arm 111 of the base member 110, since the upper end portion thereof is attached by means of a screw (not shown , either) to a proper receptacle 113C located on top of the box-like accommodation 112, whereas the lower end portion thereof engages said second bore 118;
  • the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110 has a U-shaped cross-section defined by a lower horizontal wall 122 and two vertical walls 124.
  • the lower wall 122 is provided with a circular bore 123 communicating with said box-like accommodation 112 on the front side of the base member 110.
  • the vertical walls 124 are provided on the outside with respective lugs 125, a vertical threaded through-bore 126 being provided to pass therethrough;
  • the brewing unit which comprises a first and a second body portion 130, 140 in the shape of cylindrical cups with respective enlarged heads 139, 141.
  • These cup-shaped body portions 130 and 140 are aligned along a vertical axis, which is also the axis of the above- mentioned bore 123 in the bottom wall 122 of the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110.
  • the first cup-shaped body portion 130 in the lower portion of which there is located the port 137 for the admission of the dose of hot water required to prepare the beverage, accommodates therewithin, in a slightly loose manner, i.e. under a slight slack, the second cup-shaped body portion 140, which is attached to the upper portion of the upright member 11.
  • the first cup-shaped body portion 130 rests on a pair of springs 135 that are wound about two vertical tie rods 131 passing through two bores 138 of the same first cup-shaped body portion 130 and provided with threaded end portions 132 and 133 allowing them to be screwed onto corresponding threaded bores 143 of the second cup-shaped body portion 140 at the top, as well as to corresponding threaded bores 126 of the lugs 125 at the bottom.
  • the second cup-shaped body portion 140 has a first aperture 142 provided in the enlarged head 141, as well as a second aperture 147 provided in the bottom 148 thereof, which enables the cavity of the second cup-shaped body portion 140 to communicate with the head 139 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130; (c) the piercing device for the capsule 200, which is also part of the brewing unit and is illustrated in an overturned state in Figure 3 so as to make the construction details thereof more conspicuous, consists of a disk 170 comprising:
  • a device 180 for actuating the lever 114, which comprises:
  • a core or plunger 181 made of a magnetic material, such as for instance a permanent magnet
  • solenoid 182 within which said plunger 181 is able to slide, and which is fastened, by means of a Seger ring (not shown) inserted in an accommodation 112B, to the upper portion of the vertical arm 111 of the box-like base member 110.
  • the solenoid 182 is energized via electric conductors (not shown) and Faston- ⁇ ype connecting terminals 185 (shown in Figure 5);
  • the device 150 which forms the so-called passive part of the functional unit 10, comprises a metal container 151, made by casting, the cavity 152 of which accommodates a capsule 200 of the kind that has been briefly described earlier in this description with reference to Figure 7.
  • the container 151 has a bottom 156 that is open and provided with a step-like configuration which, in conjunction with a step-like configuration at the upper mouth of the cavity 152, is intended to hold and retain the capsule 200, as this is best shown in Figures 5 and 6.
  • said container 151 is provided laterally with male means 155 for coupling with corresponding female means 128 that are provided on the inner vertical surfaces of the horizontal arm 121 of the box-shaped base member 110 (see Figure 3).
  • the container 151 is provided frontally with a cross-shaped shank 153 for coupling with an elongated handle 154, the latter being preferably made of a thermosetting material.
  • a suitable vessel i.e. a cup or similar vessel provided to collect the dispensed beverage for drinking, on the specially provided central support area 28 of the grille-like cover 24, and then loads in the cup-shaped cavity 151 a new capsule 200, which contains a dose of the raw material required to prepare the desired beverage, in such a manner as to prevent the membrane or foil 208 forming the upper wall thereof from protruding upwards from the same container 151.
  • the passive part 150 of the functional unit 10 is introduced into the window 64 in the front wall 63 of the box-like body 62 and caused to couple with the active part 100 by means of said male and female means 155 and 158 that enable the container 151 to be locked in place on the base member 110 of the functional unit 10.
  • the capsule 200 which abuts and rests against the afore mentioned step-like configurations of the through-aperture or cavity 152, comes in this way to lie axially aligned not only with the bore 156, but also with the two cup-shaped body portions 130, 140 and the circular bore 123 in the horizontal arm 121 of said base member 110, exactly beneath the piercing device 170.
  • the configuration of the functional unit 10 of the machine as illustrated in Figure 5 is the configuration under resting conditions, i.e. with the solenoid 182 de-energized so that the magnetic core 181 is raised, since the counter-spring (not shown) keeps the farthest end portion, with respect to the pin 127, of the upper concave portion 120 of the lever 114 in contact with the idler roller 184.
  • the result is that, not only the punch 119, but practically the entire lever 114, except for the wing 117 where it is situated the bore 118 provided for fastening the counter-spring, lies inside the box-like accommodation 112.
  • the user by operating in a fully traditional manner the buttons 86 on the control panel 82 accordingly, starts the operation of the machine to carry out a cycle for preparing and dispensing the desired beverage.
  • the operation of the machine starts with a rotation of the lever 114 about the pin 127, which is brought about by supplying power to, i.e. energizing the solenoid 182 via its power-supply terminals 185, so that the magnetic core, i.e. plunger 181 is caused to slide upwards against the reaction force of the counter-spring, thereby acting on the upper concave portion 120 of the lever 114.
  • the lever 114 is in this way caused to move from its resting configuration, as illustrated above, to the operating configuration illustrated in Figure 6, in which it can be noticed that the lower portion thereof is penetrating, from the bottom upwards, the bore 123 in the bottom wall 122 of the box-like base member 110 and, as a result, the bore 156 of the container 151, so that the punch 119 is enabled to reach, inside the serrated cylindrical wall 216, up to a point just below the tip of the cusp 214 of the bottom 202 of the capsule 200 upon its having caused the lower membrane 210 to tear and deform.
  • such tearing and deforming effect causes a kind of spout — as shown with a dashed line and generally indicated at 220 in Figure 7 — in the lower membrane 210, wherein such spout comes to practically lie aligned along the common axis of the capsule 200, the two cup- shaped body portions 130 and 140, the bore 156 of the container 151, and the circular bore 123 in the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110.
  • a pump (provided internally in the machine and not shown in the Figures) delivers water under pressure into the second cup-shaped body portion 140, while an electric boiler (provided internally in the machine and not shown in the Figures, either) starts to heat up the dose of water required for the preparation of the desired beverage.
  • an electric boiler (provided internally in the machine and not shown in the Figures, either) starts to heat up the dose of water required for the preparation of the desired beverage.
  • the water under pressure reaches the bottom 136 of the first cup- shaped body portion 130, which is then forced to descend, jointly with the disk 170 of the piercing device for the capsule 200, by sliding down along the second cup-shaped body portion 140.
  • the disk 170 goes down to a point at which the upper edge 209 of the capsule 200 snaps into the groove 177 to be retained there, with the result that the capsule 200 is locked in its position in the container 151.
  • the needles 173 of the disk 170 come to perforate, at a plurality of positions, the upper membrane 208 of the capsule 200.
  • the boiling water under pressure is let into the capsule 200 by the nozzles 175 in the disk 170, through the perforations that had been previously created by the needles 173 in the upper membrane 208.
  • the beverage is in this way brewed to eventually flow filtered out of the capsule through the orifices 203, whereas, owing also to the particular conformation of the bottom 202 both towards the interior and the exterior of the capsule (in this connection, see the afore cited patent application No. PCT/EP03/12338), the inlet water is allowed to vigorously mix with the raw material inside the chamber 212 that forms immediately upstream of the dispensing spout 220. From this spout 220, the beverage falls freely and directly into the single-dose vessel (cup or similar vessel) that is placed therebelow to collect the beverage for drinking.
  • the single-dose vessel cup or similar vessel
  • the springs 135 urge the same cup-shaped body portion 130, jointly with the disk 170, upwards into the initial position thereof.
  • the upper edge 209 of the capsule 200 is in this way released , thereby allowing the whole passive part 150 to be removed from the machine with the aid of the handle 154.
  • the exhausted capsule i.e. the capsule that has in this way been emptied of the raw material contained therein, may in this way be conventionally unloaded from the machine and disposed of as provided for by the applying law regulations.
  • the machine is at this point ready to start a new operating cycle, similar to the above-described one.

Abstract

The present invention provides for at least a dispensing spout (220) to be directly formed in the sealing membrane (210) that closes the bottom of a capsule (200) containing an edible raw material for preparing a beverage, e.g. coffee. In this manner, the beverage is able to directly fall from the capsule into a drinking vessel arranged therebelow. What is claimed are both a machine, characterized by the means (109) that form the spout and the open bottom (156) of the container (151) in which the capsule is loaded, and a method for preparing and dispensing the beverage.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AND DELIVERING A BEVERAGE WITH THE USE OF A RAW MATTER CONTAINED IN A
CARTRIDGE.
*** Description
Field of the invention
The present invention refers to a machine and a method for preparing and dispensing a beverage starting from raw material that is contained in a sealed capsule. Background of the invention and state of the related art
Largely known in the art is the use of sealed capsules usually containing a single-dose amount of raw materials that, as a consequence of steam or water under pressure being fed into the capsules themselves, produce a beverage.
An example of a traditional capsule of this kind, which is disclosed in the patent publication EP-A-O 521 510, comprises a body portion having a slightly flared shape, which is made of plastics moulded integrally with the bottom wall thereof, the latter being in the shape of a planar disk with a plurality of reduced-thickness zones and supporting a filter on the inner face thereof. This capsule is completed by an upper wall formed by a membrane. At the moment of its use, the capsule is loaded in a machine, where said upper wall is perforated so as to enable water under pressure to be let into the capsule, while another piercing device provides a plurality of orifices in said reduced-thickness zones of the bottom wall. The beverage practically flows out of the capsule through said orifices in a substantially uncontrolled manner, particularly in the case of capsules containing raw materials in powder form, such as for instance ground coffee of the non-instant kind, which oppose a certain resistance to the flow of water under pressure.
This is basically the reason why machines used in conjunction with capsules of the traditional type must comprise conduits to deliver the beverage from the point at which it flows out of the capsule up to the cup or other vessel in which the beverage itself is due to be received for drinking. In this connection, see for instance the patent publication EP-A-I 034 729. These conduits, however, are subject to soiling, owing to it being quite difficult and awkward - if not right away impossible - for them to be regularly and correctly cleaned. Particularly in the case of a not so frequent use of the machine, when beverages with a certain content of fatty substances (e.g. coffee and meat stock or consomme) are prepared, there exists a real risk for these substances to eventually ferment and grow rancid in the conduits, and this is certainly a development that people due to drink the beverages flowing out of said conduits are quite likely to find rather unpleasant.
Another example of the related state of the art is the machine disclosed in the patent publication US-A-5 472 719, in which the piercing device used to perforate the bottom wall of the capsule performs at the same time also as a collecting device for the beverage flowing out through the orifices created by the same device. Some of" the embodiments discussed in the above-cited patent call for these combined piercing and collecting devices to be provided as disposable one-way parts, in the sense that it is contemplated that a new device has to be used for each single capsule. This, however, further to determining an obvious increase in costs, gives rise to readily appreciable problems in terms of stock management, storage, handling and disposal of these devices. In another embodiment described in the same patent, the combined piercing and collecting device is a part of the same unit of the machine that supports the capsule. It is anyway quite clear that, if it fails to be cleaned frequently, it may well give rise to the same kind of drawbacks as already discussed with reference to EP-A-O 521 510. Scope and summary of the invention
It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a machine for preparing beverages, which, when associated to a sealed capsule of an improved construction for containing the raw material, does fully away with the afore-indicated drawbacks, without anyway incurring any penalty in terms of construction complications and costs as compared with traditional machines.
The capsule to be preferably used in conjunction with this machine (see also the patent application No. PCT/EP03/12338 filed by this same Applicant) is illustrated in Figure 7, where it is generally indicated with the reference numeral 200. This capsule can be noticed to have a bottom 202, which is provided with a plurality of filtering orifices 203 and is recessed with respect to the lower edge 204 of the flared body 206 of the capsule. It further includes an upward facing central cusp 214 and, below said cusp, i.e. extending downwards therefrom, a short serrated cylindrical wall 216. Sealing of the capsule 200 prior to its being used is ensured by a first membrane or foil 208, which is bonded or welded onto and along said upper edge 209, and a second membrane or foil 210, which is in turn bonded or welded onto and along the lower edge 204 of the body 206 and extends to almost touch, or even to come into contact with, the free end of said serrated cylindrical wall 216.
The main object of the present invention is therefore a machine for the preparation of beverages, starting from a raw material contained in a capsule of the above-described kind, incorporating the characteristics as recited in the appended claims.
Another object of the present invention is a method for preparing beverages in conjunction with the use of said machine, said method incorporating in turn the characteristics as recited in the appended claims. Short description of the drawings Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway be more readily understood from the description of a preferred, although not sole embodiment, which, is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is an overall three-dimensional view of a machine for the preparation, of espresso coffee according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a side view of a sub-assembly of the machine shown in Figure 1, in which said sub-assembly comprises the brewing unit;
- Figure 3 is an exploded view of the brewing unit; - Figure 4 is a three-dimensional rear view of the brewing unit;
- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the V-V line in Figure 2, in which "the brewing unit is shown in the configuration it takes when a capsule containing the raw material for the beverage is loaded therein;
- Figure 6 is a similar view as in Figure 5, in which the brewing unit is however sho-wn in the configuration it takes when the capsule is pierced in view of the preparation and the delivery of the coffee beverage;
- Figure 7 is a view of a capsule intended for use in a machine according to the present invention, the capsule being shown according to two vertical sectional planes intersecting on the axis of the capsule. Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
The machine being discussed here is an electrically powered machine that enables a beverage to be prepared at a rate of a single dose at a time, such as for example a cup of espresso coffee from each capsule. For reasons of greater illustrative simplicity, and from the viewpoint of the present invention that essentially relates to the brewing unit of the machine, all those parts that are constructively and functionally similar to the ones used in conventional machines will be only dealt with concisely in the following description, considering that they are generally well known to all those skilled in the art.
When viewed frontally from the outside - Le. as it is illustrated in Figure 1, actually - the machine comprises a metal, substantially cylindrical base member 2, duly provided with adjustable feet 21 for correct levelling, from which there rises upwards, asymmetrically with respect thereto, a forward bending structure 4 that is made of metal and/or structural plastics. This structure is defined by a concave front wall 6, a peripheral mantle 8 roughly in the shape of an upturned U, and a rear wall (not shown), which is partially open to receive the water reservoir 20 (only the upper end portion thereof being shown in the Figure).
From the concave front wall 6 there is protruding forwards, but in any case still within the periphery of the base member 2, a box-like body 62 accommodating the functional unit of the machine, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and shall be described in greater detail further on. The functional unit 10 of the machine comprises a device 150 for supporting a capsule 200, which is inserted through a window 64 provided in the front wall 63 of the box-like body 62. Part of this device 150 is a handgrip 154 that, as shown in Figure 2, projects forwards beyond the box-like body 62.
The portion 22 of the base member 2 that lies below and in front of the front wall 6 of the structure 4 is closed at the top by a metal grille-like cover 24, which is adapted to be lifted by means of a handgrip 26 and is provided with a central portion 28 adapted to receive and support a vessel (a cup or the like, not shown in the Figure) into which the beverage is dispensed for drinking. Within that same portion 22 of the base member 2 there is housed a drip pan (not shown) for collecting possible liquid leaking from the functional unit 10 or the vessel intended to receive the beverage, as well as residues of raw material (coffee grounds) that remain in the capsule upon the beverage having been dispensed. The handgrip 26 enables the grille-like cover 24 to be lifted in order to empty and clean said drip pan.
Inside the structure 4 there are housed various electric devices of a largely known type for operating and controlling the machine, which are connected to a plurality of push¬ buttons 86 and indicator lights 88 accessible on a control panel 82, which is removable to special maintenance and repair purposes. To this purpose, said control panel is in fact provided with holes 84 for fastening screws (not shown).
As far as the present invention is concerned, the most important part of the machine is constituted by the above-mentioned functional unit 10 which, as already indicated above, is housed in the box-like body 62 below the peripheral mantle 8 of the structure 4. This functional unit - as shown in greater detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4 - comprises a first stationary part 100, which will be referred to as the active part in this description and is supported by an upright member 11 made of press-formed sheet-metal and housed within the same structure 4 (see Figure 2), and a second part, which will be referred to as the passive part in this description and comprises the afore mentioned capsule supporting device 150 (see Figure 3). The active part 100 of the functional unit 10 comprises:
(a) an L-shaped base member 110 made as a unitary piece by casting or press-forming, comprising a vertical arm 111 and a horizontal arm 121, wherein in particular:
- the vertical arm 111 comprises a box-shaped accommodation 112, which is open both on the front side, Le. towards the said horizontal arm 121, and on the back side, and is further provided with a lower appendix 112A projecting downwards. On the back side of the vertical arm 111 and at the sides of the accommodation 112 there are provided the openings 113A and 113B intended for receiving the screws (not shown) used to fasten the entire active part 100 of the functional unit 10 to the upright member 11 (see Figure 4). In the accommodation 112 there is arranged, along a vertical plane, lever 114, roughly in the shape of an L, that forms one of the main features if the present invention. This lever 115 is made by press-forming or machining so as to feature a rather substantial thickness and, as viewed laterally from the top down, includes: an upper portion 120 featuring an upward concave contour, and a first bore 115 located in the widening zone 116 of the box- like accommodation 112, intended to receive the hinging pin 127 (visible in Figures 5 and 6) for the same lever 114; an intermediate portion provided with a rearwards protruding wing 117, where a second bore 118 of the lever 114 is provided; a lower portion that terminates in a punch 119. A return spring (not shown for reasons of greater illustrative simplicity) connects the lever 114 to the vertical arm 111 of the base member 110, since the upper end portion thereof is attached by means of a screw (not shown , either) to a proper receptacle 113C located on top of the box-like accommodation 112, whereas the lower end portion thereof engages said second bore 118; - the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110 has a U-shaped cross-section defined by a lower horizontal wall 122 and two vertical walls 124. The lower wall 122 is provided with a circular bore 123 communicating with said box-like accommodation 112 on the front side of the base member 110. The vertical walls 124 are provided on the outside with respective lugs 125, a vertical threaded through-bore 126 being provided to pass therethrough;
(b) the brewing unit, which comprises a first and a second body portion 130, 140 in the shape of cylindrical cups with respective enlarged heads 139, 141. These cup-shaped body portions 130 and 140 are aligned along a vertical axis, which is also the axis of the above- mentioned bore 123 in the bottom wall 122 of the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110. The first cup-shaped body portion 130, in the lower portion of which there is located the port 137 for the admission of the dose of hot water required to prepare the beverage, accommodates therewithin, in a slightly loose manner, i.e. under a slight slack, the second cup-shaped body portion 140, which is attached to the upper portion of the upright member 11. The first cup-shaped body portion 130 rests on a pair of springs 135 that are wound about two vertical tie rods 131 passing through two bores 138 of the same first cup-shaped body portion 130 and provided with threaded end portions 132 and 133 allowing them to be screwed onto corresponding threaded bores 143 of the second cup-shaped body portion 140 at the top, as well as to corresponding threaded bores 126 of the lugs 125 at the bottom. The second cup-shaped body portion 140 has a first aperture 142 provided in the enlarged head 141, as well as a second aperture 147 provided in the bottom 148 thereof, which enables the cavity of the second cup-shaped body portion 140 to communicate with the head 139 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130; (c) the piercing device for the capsule 200, which is also part of the brewing unit and is illustrated in an overturned state in Figure 3 so as to make the construction details thereof more conspicuous, consists of a disk 170 comprising:
- a central through-bore 178 for fastening by means of a central screw 174 to the bottom 136 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130 below the inlet port 137 for the admission of the water required to prepare the beverage;
- accommodations 171 and 172 intended to receive sealing gaskets (not shown) on the same cylinder 130;
- a groove 177 on the front surface having a slightly larger than the upper edge 209 of the capsule 20;
- on the same front surface, between the bore 178 and the groove 177, a plurality of vertical needles 173 for piercing the upper membrane or foil 209, as well as vertical nozzles 175 to inject water under pressure into the capsule 200, as this shall be better explained further on in this description; (d) a device 180 (see Figures 4 to 6) for actuating the lever 114, which comprises:
- a core or plunger 181 made of a magnetic material, such as for instance a permanent magnet;
- a solenoid 182, within which said plunger 181 is able to slide, and which is fastened, by means of a Seger ring (not shown) inserted in an accommodation 112B, to the upper portion of the vertical arm 111 of the box-like base member 110. The solenoid 182 is energized via electric conductors (not shown) and Faston-τype connecting terminals 185 (shown in Figure 5);
- a rod 183, firmly joined to the plunger 181, which protrudes downwards beyond the vertical bulk of the solenoid 182 and is provided with a small idler roller 184 at the free end portion thereof. The force exerted by the return spring provided between the receptacle 113C and the bore 118 ensures that the roller 184 is constantly kept in contact with the upwards facing concavity of the upper end portion 120 of the lever 114.
The device 150, which forms the so-called passive part of the functional unit 10, comprises a metal container 151, made by casting, the cavity 152 of which accommodates a capsule 200 of the kind that has been briefly described earlier in this description with reference to Figure 7. According to another major feature of the present invention, the container 151 has a bottom 156 that is open and provided with a step-like configuration which, in conjunction with a step-like configuration at the upper mouth of the cavity 152, is intended to hold and retain the capsule 200, as this is best shown in Figures 5 and 6. On its outer surface, said container 151 is provided laterally with male means 155 for coupling with corresponding female means 128 that are provided on the inner vertical surfaces of the horizontal arm 121 of the box-shaped base member 110 (see Figure 3). Furthermore, the container 151 is provided frontally with a cross-shaped shank 153 for coupling with an elongated handle 154, the latter being preferably made of a thermosetting material. Next, the mode of operation of this machine shall be described in greater detail. In the first place, the user places a suitable vessel, i.e. a cup or similar vessel provided to collect the dispensed beverage for drinking, on the specially provided central support area 28 of the grille-like cover 24, and then loads in the cup-shaped cavity 151 a new capsule 200, which contains a dose of the raw material required to prepare the desired beverage, in such a manner as to prevent the membrane or foil 208 forming the upper wall thereof from protruding upwards from the same container 151. With the help of the handle 154, the passive part 150 of the functional unit 10 is introduced into the window 64 in the front wall 63 of the box-like body 62 and caused to couple with the active part 100 by means of said male and female means 155 and 158 that enable the container 151 to be locked in place on the base member 110 of the functional unit 10. The capsule 200, which abuts and rests against the afore mentioned step-like configurations of the through-aperture or cavity 152, comes in this way to lie axially aligned not only with the bore 156, but also with the two cup-shaped body portions 130, 140 and the circular bore 123 in the horizontal arm 121 of said base member 110, exactly beneath the piercing device 170. The configuration of the functional unit 10 of the machine as illustrated in Figure 5 is the configuration under resting conditions, i.e. with the solenoid 182 de-energized so that the magnetic core 181 is raised, since the counter-spring (not shown) keeps the farthest end portion, with respect to the pin 127, of the upper concave portion 120 of the lever 114 in contact with the idler roller 184. The result is that, not only the punch 119, but practically the entire lever 114, except for the wing 117 where it is situated the bore 118 provided for fastening the counter-spring, lies inside the box-like accommodation 112.
At this point, the user, by operating in a fully traditional manner the buttons 86 on the control panel 82 accordingly, starts the operation of the machine to carry out a cycle for preparing and dispensing the desired beverage. The operation of the machine starts with a rotation of the lever 114 about the pin 127, which is brought about by supplying power to, i.e. energizing the solenoid 182 via its power-supply terminals 185, so that the magnetic core, i.e. plunger 181 is caused to slide upwards against the reaction force of the counter-spring, thereby acting on the upper concave portion 120 of the lever 114. The lever 114 is in this way caused to move from its resting configuration, as illustrated above, to the operating configuration illustrated in Figure 6, in which it can be noticed that the lower portion thereof is penetrating, from the bottom upwards, the bore 123 in the bottom wall 122 of the box-like base member 110 and, as a result, the bore 156 of the container 151, so that the punch 119 is enabled to reach, inside the serrated cylindrical wall 216, up to a point just below the tip of the cusp 214 of the bottom 202 of the capsule 200 upon its having caused the lower membrane 210 to tear and deform. According to a further major feature of the present invention, such tearing and deforming effect causes a kind of spout — as shown with a dashed line and generally indicated at 220 in Figure 7 — in the lower membrane 210, wherein such spout comes to practically lie aligned along the common axis of the capsule 200, the two cup- shaped body portions 130 and 140, the bore 156 of the container 151, and the circular bore 123 in the horizontal arm 121 of the base member 110. As soon as the above-cited spout 220 is formed in this manner, the power supply to the solenoid 182 is cut off, and the solenoid itself is de-energized, so that the reaction force of the counter-spring prevails over the overall weight of the plunger 181, the rod 183 and the roller 184 and, as a result, the lever 114, by pivoting back in the reverse direction, is able to move from this operating configuration back to its previously described resting configuration.
In the meantime, or even immediately thereafter, in a manner that is largely known as such to all those skilled in the art, a pump (provided internally in the machine and not shown in the Figures) delivers water under pressure into the second cup-shaped body portion 140, while an electric boiler (provided internally in the machine and not shown in the Figures, either) starts to heat up the dose of water required for the preparation of the desired beverage. Through the apertures 142, 147 and the inner cavity of the second cup- shaped body portion 140, the water under pressure reaches the bottom 136 of the first cup- shaped body portion 130, which is then forced to descend, jointly with the disk 170 of the piercing device for the capsule 200, by sliding down along the second cup-shaped body portion 140.
Owing to this descending movement, the disk 170 goes down to a point at which the upper edge 209 of the capsule 200 snaps into the groove 177 to be retained there, with the result that the capsule 200 is locked in its position in the container 151. Owing to the same descending movement, the needles 173 of the disk 170 come to perforate, at a plurality of positions, the upper membrane 208 of the capsule 200. Immediately thereafter, the boiling water under pressure is let into the capsule 200 by the nozzles 175 in the disk 170, through the perforations that had been previously created by the needles 173 in the upper membrane 208. The beverage is in this way brewed to eventually flow filtered out of the capsule through the orifices 203, whereas, owing also to the particular conformation of the bottom 202 both towards the interior and the exterior of the capsule (in this connection, see the afore cited patent application No. PCT/EP03/12338), the inlet water is allowed to vigorously mix with the raw material inside the chamber 212 that forms immediately upstream of the dispensing spout 220. From this spout 220, the beverage falls freely and directly into the single-dose vessel (cup or similar vessel) that is placed therebelow to collect the beverage for drinking.
At the end of the brewing process, followed by the so brewed beverage being dispensed and the pressure exerted onto the bottom 136 of the first cup-shaped body portion 130 being released, the springs 135 urge the same cup-shaped body portion 130, jointly with the disk 170, upwards into the initial position thereof. The upper edge 209 of the capsule 200 is in this way released , thereby allowing the whole passive part 150 to be removed from the machine with the aid of the handle 154. The exhausted capsule, i.e. the capsule that has in this way been emptied of the raw material contained therein, may in this way be conventionally unloaded from the machine and disposed of as provided for by the applying law regulations. The machine is at this point ready to start a new operating cycle, similar to the above-described one.
Fully apparent from the above description is therefore the ability of the the present invention to effectively reach the following aims and advantages, i.e.:
- since the beverage is dispensed in a direct manner by falling by gravity right into the vessel from which it is drunk by the user, instead of having to follow a fixed, obligatory route inside the machine downstream of the outlet orifices of the capsule, the critical factors indicated earlier in this description in connection with prior-art machines (i.e. difficult, if not right away impossible cleaning of the route followed by the beverage, risk for fatty substances contained in the beverage to ferment and grow rancid in the conduits, and the like) do no longer exist;
- no maintenance at all is required for the piercing means used to perforate the lower membrane of the capsule, i.e. the punch, since the latter is not hit and, as a result, fouled by the beverage flowing out of the capsule as it is dispensed, since it is retracted into the box- lile accommodation;
- the machine itself is simple and reliable in its construction.
Although a preferred embodiment has been used in the above description and in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the present invention, it will be appreciated that a number of different embodiments and variants thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims
1. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages with the use of at least a capsule (200) containing an edible raw material, in which said capsule comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion (206) with an upper edge (209) and a lower edge (204), onto which there are applied respective sealing membranes (208, 210), as well as with a bottom wall (202) provided with filtering orifices (203) and recessed with respect to said lower edge (204), so that between the corresponding sealing membrane (210) and the lower surface of the same bottom wall (202) there forms a chamber that fills up with the beverage percolating through said orifices (203) prior to dispensing, said machine having a load-bearing structure, an outer casing and support means (28) for a vessel intended to collect the beverage being dispensed, and being further provided with a functional unit (10) including a so-called active part (100) and a so-called passive part (150), in which said passive part (150) includes a container (151) to accommodate a capsule (200) and is adapted to be coupled to said active part (100), whereas said active part (100), which is supported by the load-bearing structure of the machine, includes:
(a) a base member (110) adapted to receive the container (151) loaded with a capsule (200),
(b) a brewing device arranged so as to be aligned with the capsule (200)
(c) piercing means (173) associated to said brewing device to perforate said upper membrane (208) of the capsule (200),
(d) means (175) for letting hot water or steam under pressure into the capsule (200), and
(e) perforating means for rupturing said lower membrane (210), characterized in that
- said container (151) of the capsule (200) has the bottom thereof that is open underneath the capsule (200) loaded therein so as to ensure that the axis thereof extends vertically,
- said perforating means for the lower membrane (210) are constituted by punching means (119) adapted to form in said membrane at least a spout (220), through which the beverage is dispensed directly into the drinking vessel provided therebelow by falling freely thereinto from the capsule (200).
2. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that said punching means (119) are adapted to be moved, either prior to the beverage being brewed or at the beginning of the brewing process, from a resting configuration, in which they are retracted inside said base member (110) adapted to receive the container (151), thereby lying at a distance from the capsule (200) loaded in said container, to an operating configuration, in which, by rupturing said lower membrane (210) under a drawing strain, they give shape to said at least a spout (220).
3. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 2, characterized in that said punching means (119) are adapted to be moved back from said operating configuration to said resting configuration thereof immediately upon them having so formed said spout (220), so as to prevent them from being flushed by the beverage falling from the capsule (200).
4. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 2, characterized in that said punching means (119) are part of at least a lever (114), which is actuated into displacing from said resting configuration to said operating configuration by means of an electromagnetic device (120) adapted to act on said lever (114).
5. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 4, characterized in that said lever (114) is actuated into displacing back from said operating configuration to said resting configuration thereof by the action of a counter-spring connecting the same lever with said base member (110) adapted to receive the container (151) loaded with the capsule (200).
6. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that the brewing device comprises a first cup-shaped body portion (130), which is provided with a port (137) for admitting the hot water or steam under pressure required to prepare the beverage, and a second cup-shaped body portion (140), which is supported by the load-bearing structure of the machine and arranged coaxially with the first cup-shaped body portion (130), in which said first cup-shaped body portion (130) is capable of sliding along said second cup-shaped body portion (140), in the direction of the capsule (200), owing to water under pressure being let onto the bottom of said first cup- shaped body portion (130) through apertures provided in said second cup-shaped body portion (140).
7. Machine for preparing and dispensing beverages according to claim 1, characterized, in that said piercing means for perforating said upper membrane (208) of the capsule (200) comprise a disk (170) attached to the bottom of said first cup-shaped body portion (130) and provided with: a ring-shaped groove (177) adapted to the upper edge (209) of the capsule (200), so as to keep the same capsule firmly locked in place during the beverage brewing process, a plurality of needles or similar puncturing means (173), and a plurality of nozzles (175) to inject hot water or steam under pressure into the capsule (200).
8. Method for preparing and dispensing beverages with the use of at least a capsule (200) containing an edible raw material, in which said capsule comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion (206) with an upper edge (209) and a lower edge (204), onto which there are applied respective sealing membranes (208, 210), as well as with a bottom wall (202) provided with filtering orifices (203) and recessed with respect to said lower edge (204), so that between the corresponding sealing membrane (210) and the lower surface of the same bottom wall (202) there forms a chamber that fills up with the beverage percolating through said orifices (203) prior to dispensing, characterized in that said lower membrane (210), prior to the brewing process being started, is subjected to rupturing under a drawing strain that is effective in forming in the same lower membrane (210) at least a spout (220), through which the beverage is dispensed directly into the drinking vessel provided therebelow by falling freely thereinto from the capsule (200).
PCT/IT2004/000541 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge WO2006038227A1 (en)

Priority Applications (27)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2004/000541 WO2006038227A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
PT04791875T PT1796517E (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
EP04791875A EP1796517B1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
MEP-2008-241A ME00103B (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
AT04791875T ATE383802T1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING A BEVERAGE USING A RAW MATERIAL CONTAINED IN A CARTRIDGE
CNB2004800440792A CN100488424C (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
MX2007003792A MX2007003792A (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge.
CA2581481A CA2581481C (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
AU2004323812A AU2004323812B8 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
PL04791875T PL1796517T3 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
NZ554154A NZ554154A (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
ES04791875T ES2299879T3 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE TO PREPARE AND SUPPLY A DRINK USING A RAW MATERIAL CONTAINED IN A CARTRIDGE.
US11/663,623 US7806043B2 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
RSP-2007/0157A RS50413B (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
JP2007534183A JP4575952B2 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and supplying beverage using raw material stored in cartridge
BRPI0419121A BRPI0419121B1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 machine for preparing and dispensing drinks using at least one capsule
DE602004011406T DE602004011406T2 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING A BEVERAGE USING A RAW MATERIAL CONTAINED IN A CARTRIDGE
DK04791875T DK1796517T3 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for making and delivering a beverage using a feedstock contained in a cartridge.
IS8636A IS8636A (en) 2004-10-01 2005-04-27 Process and equipment for brewing and production of beverages using raw material in capsules
TW094129486A TWI292310B (en) 2004-10-01 2005-08-29 Apparatus for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
ARP050104161A AR055270A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2005-09-30 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING A DRINK USING RAW MATERIAL CONTAINED IN A CARTRIDGE
TNP2007000096A TNSN07096A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2007-03-16 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
EGNA2007000321 EG24505A (en) 2004-10-01 2007-03-28 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
IL182306A IL182306A (en) 2004-10-01 2007-03-29 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of raw matter contained in a cartridge
NO20072265A NO337616B1 (en) 2004-10-01 2007-05-02 Method of preparing and dispensing a beverage using a raw material arranged in a cartridge
HK07110969A HK1107920A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2007-10-10 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
HR20080133T HRP20080133T3 (en) 2004-10-01 2008-03-25 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2004/000541 WO2006038227A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006038227A1 true WO2006038227A1 (en) 2006-04-13

Family

ID=34958606

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2004/000541 WO2006038227A1 (en) 2004-10-01 2004-10-01 Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge

Country Status (27)

Country Link
US (1) US7806043B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1796517B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4575952B2 (en)
CN (1) CN100488424C (en)
AR (1) AR055270A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE383802T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2004323812B8 (en)
BR (1) BRPI0419121B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2581481C (en)
DE (1) DE602004011406T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1796517T3 (en)
EG (1) EG24505A (en)
ES (1) ES2299879T3 (en)
HK (1) HK1107920A1 (en)
HR (1) HRP20080133T3 (en)
IL (1) IL182306A (en)
IS (1) IS8636A (en)
ME (1) ME00103B (en)
MX (1) MX2007003792A (en)
NO (1) NO337616B1 (en)
NZ (1) NZ554154A (en)
PL (1) PL1796517T3 (en)
PT (1) PT1796517E (en)
RS (1) RS50413B (en)
TN (1) TNSN07096A1 (en)
TW (1) TWI292310B (en)
WO (1) WO2006038227A1 (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2010534102A (en) * 2007-07-20 2010-11-04 サエコ アイピーアール リミテッド Single capsule capsule punching device
JP2011506014A (en) * 2007-12-18 2011-03-03 ネステク ソシエテ アノニム Beverage preparation device comprising a detachable injection member
RU2472415C2 (en) * 2007-10-16 2013-01-20 Крафт Фудз Ар Энд Ди, Инк. Dispenser for beverages with sealing element of piercing device
CN104349702A (en) * 2012-07-06 2015-02-11 荷兰联合利华有限公司 Device and method for brewing beverage
ITMI20131712A1 (en) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-17 Cma Macchine Per Caffe S R L INTRODUCTION DEVICE FOR A FILTER DOOR IN A COFFEE BREWING GROUP
US9084509B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2015-07-21 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. In or relating to beverage preparation machines
CN104905685A (en) * 2015-05-11 2015-09-16 浙江酷菲尔电器有限公司 Pressure type beverage brewing machine
US10004353B2 (en) 2013-03-21 2018-06-26 Conopco, Inc. Method, device and capsule for brewing a beverage
US11000146B2 (en) 2012-07-05 2021-05-11 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Pad for use in a coffee maker

Families Citing this family (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK2071986T3 (en) 2007-12-18 2012-05-21 Nestec Sa System for making a beverage out of ingredients and using a coded insert
US9021938B2 (en) 2008-07-25 2015-05-05 Gideon Duvall System and method for brewing beverages
IT1391885B1 (en) * 2008-11-03 2012-01-27 Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 Spa PERFORATOR DEVICE FOR CAPSULES AND MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF DRINKING DRINKS SUCH A DEVICE.
DE102009026830A1 (en) 2009-06-08 2010-12-16 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc., Northfield Brewing head of a hot beverage vending machine based on dimensionally stable beverage cartridges
DE102009049945A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2011-04-21 Krüger Gmbh & Co. Kg Brewing device and method for extracting a portion capsule
JP2013510680A (en) 2009-11-12 2013-03-28 ジェネレーション アイ．ディー．イー．エー．，エルエルシー． Apparatus and method for preparing a liquid mixture
US8528466B2 (en) * 2010-02-05 2013-09-10 Bobbi J Sweet Liquid overflow platform and container for small appliances
KR200450676Y1 (en) * 2010-06-22 2010-10-21 컨벡스코리아(주) Receptacles for Coffee Capsules
WO2012032019A1 (en) * 2010-09-07 2012-03-15 Nestec S.A. Ergonomic handle with user-interface
BR112013016221A2 (en) * 2010-12-28 2017-06-20 Starbucks Corp D/B/A Starbucks Coffee Company beverage infusion apparatus and its use, process for brewing a beverage
WO2012121597A1 (en) 2011-03-07 2012-09-13 Cupsystem Company B.V. Disposable package and system for preparation of a liquid product
EP2713835B1 (en) 2011-05-26 2016-08-17 The Richards Corporation Universal espresso maker
CA2841241A1 (en) * 2011-07-12 2013-01-17 Nestec S.A. Pivotally closing beverage ingredient holder with a lock
GB2499004A (en) * 2012-02-02 2013-08-07 Kraft Foods R & D Inc Clamping mechanism for a beverage preparation machine
AU2012377703A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2014-11-13 Ides Development Company Limited Machine for preparing beverages
CN102743107B (en) * 2012-07-19 2015-05-06 宁波圣莱达电器股份有限公司 Brewing device of coffee maker
CN104768432B (en) * 2012-08-21 2018-03-30 布瑞威利私人有限公司 Portable filter for capsule
CN104510351B (en) * 2013-09-30 2017-09-22 胡剑彧 A kind of extraction mechanism of coffee machine
US10136754B2 (en) 2014-01-17 2018-11-27 Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. Beverage machine cartridge holder
US9295357B2 (en) 2014-01-17 2016-03-29 Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. Apparatus for cup and carafe beverage production
CN104095545B (en) * 2014-06-20 2016-05-18 沁园集团股份有限公司 A kind of capsule serving utensil
US11292706B2 (en) * 2014-12-30 2022-04-05 Edward Showalter Apparatus, systems and methods for preparing and dispensing foods
US10647563B2 (en) * 2014-12-30 2020-05-12 Edward Showalter Apparatus, systems and methods for dispensing drinks
KR102326486B1 (en) * 2015-03-19 2021-11-16 주식회사 나조산업 Coffee vending machine
PT3143910T (en) * 2015-09-17 2018-11-05 Mocoffee Europe Unipessoal Lda Apparatus for producing a beverage from a capsule
CA3059050A1 (en) * 2017-04-18 2018-10-25 Novadelta - Comercio E Industria De Cafes, S.A. Beverage distribution system with optimized retention of beverage recipients
CN111938441B (en) * 2020-07-24 2022-05-03 六安索伊电器制造有限公司 Automatic bag falling device of coffee machine
US11825978B2 (en) * 2021-08-27 2023-11-28 Sheldon Wong Systems and methods for improved brewing of ground coffee

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3292527A (en) * 1963-03-04 1966-12-20 Stasse Roland Apparatus for preparing and dispensing beverages from prefabricated cartridges and aliquid
US4136202A (en) * 1976-12-17 1979-01-23 Societe D'assistance Technique Pour Produits Nestle S.A. Capsule for beverage preparation
EP0272922A2 (en) * 1986-12-23 1988-06-29 General Foods Limited Beverage packages
EP0389141A1 (en) * 1989-03-20 1990-09-26 General Foods Limited Beverage packages
EP1295554A1 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 SGL Italia S.r.l. Coffee machine for brewing coffee from ground coffee packed in a cartridge
EP1440639A1 (en) * 2003-01-24 2004-07-28 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. Machine for the preparation of beverages

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3470812A (en) * 1968-03-18 1969-10-07 David J Levinson Coffee brewing head
DE3400567C3 (en) * 1984-01-10 1994-07-28 Krups Fa Robert Electrically operated espresso machine
US5127318A (en) * 1988-12-12 1992-07-07 Selsys Corporation Apparatus and process for extracting espresso coffee
CH682909C1 (en) 1990-10-31 1997-11-28 Coffea Sa Apparatus for the preparation of a liquid product by introducing a liquid and / or a vapor into a cartridge and cartridge usable in such an apparatus.
DK0521510T3 (en) 1991-07-05 1997-05-12 Nestle Sa Rigid coffee cartridge and process for making it
WO1996008990A1 (en) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-28 Eugster/Frismag Ag Brewing head for coffee portion capsules in an espresso machine
US5899137A (en) * 1997-01-13 1999-05-04 Weber Aircraft, Inc. Beverage making apparatus with can piercer
IT247923Y1 (en) 1999-03-12 2002-09-16 Essegielle Srl ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE.
CN2511225Y (en) * 2000-12-29 2002-09-18 钱雷 Household drinking top
US6708600B2 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-03-23 Keurig, Incorporated Puncturing and venting of single serve beverage filter cartridge
US7063238B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2006-06-20 Robert Hale Cartridge ejector for a beverage dispensing machine
CA2470363C (en) * 2002-01-10 2010-08-03 Alfred Yoakim Automatic device for the extraction of a substance
US6786134B2 (en) * 2002-02-07 2004-09-07 The Coca-Cola Company Coffee and tea dispenser
US7316178B2 (en) * 2003-01-24 2008-01-08 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. Machine for the preparation of beverages
ITTV20030058A1 (en) 2003-04-02 2004-10-03 Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 S P A SINGLE-DOSE PLASTIC CAPSULES FOR POWDER COFFEE AND SIMILAR.
EP1510159A1 (en) * 2003-08-25 2005-03-02 Nestec S.A. Procedure for making a food product
ITTO20030885A1 (en) * 2003-11-07 2005-05-08 Sgl Italia Srl METHOD AND INFUSION DEVICE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COFFEE BASED DRINK.

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3292527A (en) * 1963-03-04 1966-12-20 Stasse Roland Apparatus for preparing and dispensing beverages from prefabricated cartridges and aliquid
US4136202A (en) * 1976-12-17 1979-01-23 Societe D'assistance Technique Pour Produits Nestle S.A. Capsule for beverage preparation
EP0272922A2 (en) * 1986-12-23 1988-06-29 General Foods Limited Beverage packages
EP0389141A1 (en) * 1989-03-20 1990-09-26 General Foods Limited Beverage packages
EP1295554A1 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 SGL Italia S.r.l. Coffee machine for brewing coffee from ground coffee packed in a cartridge
EP1440639A1 (en) * 2003-01-24 2004-07-28 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. Machine for the preparation of beverages

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9084509B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2015-07-21 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. In or relating to beverage preparation machines
US9907432B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2018-03-06 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Beverage preparation machines
JP2010534102A (en) * 2007-07-20 2010-11-04 サエコ アイピーアール リミテッド Single capsule capsule punching device
RU2472415C2 (en) * 2007-10-16 2013-01-20 Крафт Фудз Ар Энд Ди, Инк. Dispenser for beverages with sealing element of piercing device
JP2011506014A (en) * 2007-12-18 2011-03-03 ネステク ソシエテ アノニム Beverage preparation device comprising a detachable injection member
AU2008337523B2 (en) * 2007-12-18 2014-07-24 Nestec S.A. Device for preparing a beverage with removable injection member
US11000146B2 (en) 2012-07-05 2021-05-11 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Pad for use in a coffee maker
CN104349702A (en) * 2012-07-06 2015-02-11 荷兰联合利华有限公司 Device and method for brewing beverage
US11191286B2 (en) 2012-07-06 2021-12-07 Conopco, Inc. Capsule, method and device for brewing a beverage
US10143214B2 (en) 2012-07-06 2018-12-04 Conopco, Inc. Method and device for brewing a beverage
US10004248B2 (en) 2012-07-06 2018-06-26 Conopco, Inc. Package recognition system
US10004353B2 (en) 2013-03-21 2018-06-26 Conopco, Inc. Method, device and capsule for brewing a beverage
US10098497B2 (en) 2013-10-16 2018-10-16 Cma Macchine Per Caffe, S.R.L. Device for introducing a filter-holder into a coffee dispenser
WO2015055557A1 (en) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-23 Cma Macchine Per Caffe' S.R.L. A device for introducing a filter-holder into a coffee dispenser
ITMI20131712A1 (en) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-17 Cma Macchine Per Caffe S R L INTRODUCTION DEVICE FOR A FILTER DOOR IN A COFFEE BREWING GROUP
CN104905685A (en) * 2015-05-11 2015-09-16 浙江酷菲尔电器有限公司 Pressure type beverage brewing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2581481A1 (en) 2006-04-13
TWI292310B (en) 2008-01-11
NZ554154A (en) 2008-08-29
EP1796517B1 (en) 2008-01-16
AU2004323812B2 (en) 2009-10-22
DE602004011406T2 (en) 2009-01-22
AU2004323812A1 (en) 2006-04-13
JP2008514337A (en) 2008-05-08
EG24505A (en) 2009-08-18
RS20070157A (en) 2008-06-05
JP4575952B2 (en) 2010-11-04
ES2299879T3 (en) 2008-06-01
TNSN07096A1 (en) 2008-06-02
NO20072265L (en) 2007-05-02
DE602004011406D1 (en) 2008-03-06
NO337616B1 (en) 2016-05-09
US7806043B2 (en) 2010-10-05
CA2581481C (en) 2010-09-14
BRPI0419121B1 (en) 2015-09-08
IL182306A (en) 2011-08-31
TW200614956A (en) 2006-05-16
AU2004323812A2 (en) 2006-04-13
HRP20080133T3 (en) 2008-05-31
US20080148957A1 (en) 2008-06-26
HK1107920A1 (en) 2008-04-25
BRPI0419121A (en) 2007-12-11
AR055270A1 (en) 2007-08-15
ME00103B (en) 2010-10-10
MX2007003792A (en) 2007-07-11
IL182306A0 (en) 2007-07-24
PL1796517T3 (en) 2008-06-30
ATE383802T1 (en) 2008-02-15
PT1796517E (en) 2008-04-18
DK1796517T3 (en) 2008-05-26
CN101026979A (en) 2007-08-29
EP1796517A1 (en) 2007-06-20
CN100488424C (en) 2009-05-20
IS8636A (en) 2006-04-02
MEP24108A (en) 2010-06-10
AU2004323812B8 (en) 2010-02-18
RS50413B (en) 2009-12-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2581481C (en) Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
CA2708575C (en) Device for preparing a beverage with removable injection member
US9743800B2 (en) System for preparing a beverage from ingredients supported by an encoded insert
CN102695442B (en) Coffee maker with multi and single cup modes
AU2008355535B2 (en) An assembly for automatic fresh brewing of hot beverage and dispensing thereof
EP1658796A2 (en) Coffee machine and method for producing a hot drink
KR100922940B1 (en) Apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a beverage with the use of a raw matter contained in a cartridge
RU2344742C1 (en) Drink making and filling machine using encapsulated raw materials

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DPEN Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2004791875

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 11663623

Country of ref document: US

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2581481

Country of ref document: CA

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 200480044079.2

Country of ref document: CN

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 554154

Country of ref document: NZ

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2004323812

Country of ref document: AU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: MX/a/2007/003792

Country of ref document: MX

Ref document number: 07032195

Country of ref document: CO

Ref document number: 182306

Country of ref document: IL

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1115/KOLNP/2007

Country of ref document: IN

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2007534183

Country of ref document: JP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: P-2007/0157

Country of ref document: RS

Ref document number: 1020077008774

Country of ref document: KR

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2004323812

Country of ref document: AU

Date of ref document: 20041001

Kind code of ref document: A

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2004323812

Country of ref document: AU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2007116094

Country of ref document: RU

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2004791875

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: PI0419121

Country of ref document: BR

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 2004791875

Country of ref document: EP